Bills in the 2000–2001 Session, Senate.
C. Louis Bassano
Sponsored
Became law7
Provides credit for participation rates in small employer health benefits plans to employees who are covered under another group health benefits plan or Medicare.
Increases veteran's property tax deduction.
Renames the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation as the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
Designates portion of State Highway Route No. 82 as the "Jewish War Veterans Memorial Highway;" appropriates $2,500.
Appropriates $28,317 to reimburse Division of Fish and Wildlife for payment of Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission dues.*
Modifies daily limit for taking of striped bass.
Updates names of DHS facilities.
Passed the Senate12
Requires insurance carriers to use "prudent layperson" definition for coverage of emergency health care.
Permits electronic sale of individual and small employer health benefits plans, on a direct basis.
Requires police officers and correction officers to complete training course before assuming powers and duties.
Establishes parental orientation program in the Abbott school districts.
Provides assistance to parents with mental illness in divorce or separation action under Parents' Education Program.*
Establishes pilot program for the monitoring and control of rabies in wildlife; appropriates $98,000.*
Authorizes issuance of special license plates to public members of permanent boards or commissions.
Allows certain chiropractors licensed in other states to take the examination to be licensed in New Jersey.
Requires school districts to offer instruction in the prevention of violence; appropriates $1,000,000.
Prohibits black bear hunting for five years; requires development of plan for bear population control; and appropriates $95,000.**
Directs BPU to determine heating oil reserve requirements for the State.
Imposes mandatory minimum 3-year prison term for theft of a firearm.
Out of committee25
Allows adoptees to gain access to nonidentifying developmental and medical history information.
Establishes placement trusts for persons with developmental disabilities.
Authorizes municipality to refund late tax payment penalty paid by taxpayer after successful property tax appeal.
Permits certain simulated gambling on premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
"Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Refief Act of 2001." *
Requires registration of family day care providers.
Removes requirement that a public utility employee's Social Security number appear on employee's identification badge.
Exempts sales of certain aircraft from sales and use tax.*
Increases the earned income limit allowed for exclusion of non-pension retirement income from gross income under the gross income tax.
Supplemental appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund to DHS to award grant to Community Options, Inc.
Supplemental appropriation of $100,000 to Division of Housing and Community Resources in Department of Community Affairs to fund $100,000 grant for development of affordable housing for disabled people.
Allows municipalities to increase maximum hiring age of certain public safety employees and provides for their enrollment in PFRS.*
Requires State to pay for administrative costs of general public assistance administered by municipalities.
Provides exception to definition of "at-fault accident" for accidents involving public snow and ice removal equipment.
Defines "mobile home park" as "multiple dwelling" for inspection purposes.
Requires glass door markings to prevent accidents.
Reactivates State Commission on County and Municipal Government.
Requires members of the judiciary to file annual financial disclosure statements.
Appropriates $38,695,000 from the Developmental Disabilities' Waiting List Reduction and Human Services Facilities Constuction Fund to DHS.
Revises distribution of certain motor vehicle fine moneys.
Limits duration of construction permits under certain circumstances.
Requires that election of freeholders in certain counties be held by district.
Amends law governing criminal history record background checks for individuals working with developmentally disabled in community agencies.
Provides annual utility cost relief for persons using certain medical equipment at home.
Requires testing of newborn infants for maple syrup urine disease.
In committee109
Establishes a dual enrollment program to award high school and college credit to public school students.
Authorizes State takeover of a local board of health under certain circumstances.
Permits certain small groups to combine for purpose of self-insuring or purchasing traditional insurance for health benefits.
Requires DHS and DHSS to give opportunity to providers to bid on contracts for provision or administration of comprehensive mental health or substance abuse services.
Bars suits for damages by persons injured in a stolen motor vehicle.
Requires removal or closure of certain heating oil tanks prior to sale or transfer.
Establishes sanction for refusal to wear school bus seat belt.
Permits member of a political party who does not vote in last preceding primary election to vote at next primary of another party; changes date to be deemed member of political party.
Establishes criminal penalties for firearm owners responsible for minors gaining access to firearms subsequently used in a crime.
Provides that public schools need be open only 179 days in the 1999-2000 school year due to inclement weather.
Establishes conditions for municipal approval of roadside solicitations by charities.
Prohibits use of car phone while driving.
Imposes mandatory fines and driver's license suspension on persons convicted of loitering for the purpose of buying or selling controlled dangerous substances.
Requires State Health Benefits Program to provide certain mental health benefits under same terms and conditions as for other illnesses and diseases.
Requires fish markets and restaurants to post advisories on the consumption of certain salt water fish.
Requires that the income limits of that portion of the PAAD program funded with the General Fund be increased annually.
Requires health insurer to deny or issue pre-authorization for covered services within five days of request by nonparticipating health care providers.
Makes health insurance carriers liable for medical malpractice.
Requires use of monies received by the State from tobacco companies for Health Access New Jersey program.
Exempts home infusion therapy from restrictions on referral of patients.
Creates municipal reimbursement program for removal and disposal of dead deer.
Revises operations of Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits programs.
Revises structure of NJSPCA and extends authority of animal control officers.
Expands jurisdiction of Palisades Interstate Park Commission to include Essex county.
"Open Space Leasing Act."
Allows a loss from disposition of property to be applied against other categories of gross income under the gross income tax.
Provides for gross income tax deduction of certain passive activity losses from active participation in real estate rental activity.
Permits qualified licensed veterinarians to employ foreign veterinary school graduates as assistants under certain circumstances.
Requires school districts to offer instruction in the prevention of violence; appropriates $1,000,000.
Expands conditions under which a registered voter may request and receive an absentee ballot.
Provides that TPAF and PERS veterans' retirement with 35 years of service shall be based on highest benefit year rather than last year of service.
Provides for salary deductions for voluntary insurance and investment programs for State employees and for supplemental life insurance policies for municipal law enforcement officers.
Provides that PERS member holding more than one position covered by the retirement system would have to designate one position as the basis for enrollment.
Provides that persons who administer animal euthanasia shall be certified by DHSS as trained and qualified.
Authorizes clamming on Sundays from May 15 through September 30.
Authorizes Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to construct and maintain a confined facility for disposal of contaminated dredged material.
Prohibits solicitations in roadways of State highways.
Prohibits hospital from denying admission or services to patient based on patient's HMO coverage, and requires HMO's to cover legitimate emergency health care.
Prohibits smoking in restaurants except in bars physically separated from eating areas.
Vests the Board of Public Utilities with power to fix and regulate rates charged by certain local water supply facilities.
Provides for certain ex-spouses to receive widowers' or widows' pension.
Permits possession of certain types of ammunition.
Requires backup alarms on certain trucks.
Requires applicants for driver's licenses be able to read and understand English; directs DMV to offer examinations only in English.
Imposes minimum additional period of suspension for driving while license or registration is revoked.
Authorizes counties and municipalities to charge inmates and detainees incarceration costs and place a lien to ensure payment.
Modifies reporting duties of physicians and driver licensing requirements for persons with certain neurological disorders.
Modifies blood alcohol concentration standard for repeat drunk drivers.
Includes certain paid part-time firefighters in the "Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Service Award Program Act."
Requires juvenile to be tried as an adult for certain violent crimes.
Provides exemption from jury service for paid members of fire departments, fire patrols, first aid squads and rescue squads.
Allows weapons seized in domestic violence cases to be stored with local law enforcement agency rather than the county prosecutor's office.
Provides for licensing and regulation of the business of private process services.
Permits individual and small employer carriers to offer limited 30-day hospitalization-only health benefits plans.
Provides that theft of $25,000 or more is a crime of the second degree.
Requires a plumbing contractor entering into a contract with a customer to perform certain services.
Prohibits compounding of interest and requires certain disclosures with respect to revolving credit plans.
The "Bank Fee Consumer Protection Act."
Allows employees and former employees to opt out of certain life insurance group coverage.
Permits discount for payment of small employer health benefits plan premium by automatic electronic transfer of funds.
Includes business broker in definition of real estate broker and salesperson.
Raises to $500,000 the threshold for requiring certain charitable organizations to file audited financial statements under the "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act."
Requires hospitals to disclose financial relationships with for-profit subsidiaries and report monies received from private nonprofit entities.
Authorizes Commissioner of Human Services to annually revise copayment in PAAD program if necessary.
Exempts teaching hospitals and hospitals of significant size from certificate of need requirement for cardiac catheterization services.
Establishes a schedule for the certification of teachers in licensed child care centers under contract to the Abbott districts.
Provides for special election when vacancy occurs in certain school districts within 90 days of annual school election; requires all costs to be paid by State.
Limits tuition charged for nontraditional county vocational programs to sending district's per pupil cost and requires State to pay difference between actual cost and tuition.
Provides that Commissioner of Education may recommend contracting with private corporation for management of State-operated school.
Prescribes conditions, terms and eligibility for sabbatical leaves for teachers.
Establishes a code of ethics for school board members.
Authorizes issuance of $500,000,000 in general obligation bonds to provide grants for Abbott school districts to finance construction and renovation of school buildings; appropriates $5,000.
Provides for additional side emergency exit, access aisle and increased seating capacity on certain school buses.
Provides for annual review of certain orders pertaining to care, custody, education and maintenance of a child.
Provides for review of developments of intermunicipal impact by affected municipalities.
Creates commission to study effectiveness of county government; appropriates $95,000.
Clarifies real property tax exemption for certain charitable medical research and treatment facilities.
Requires mutual aid municipalities to enter into certain shared liability agreements.
Requires inspectors of multiple dwellings under the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law" to accommodate tenant needs.
Requires random drug and alcohol testing of certain drunk drivers.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to the Department of State for a grant to the Samuel L. Baily Huntington's Disease Family Service Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Eliminates requirement that driver's licenses display color picture of licensees.
Requires walkways and bikeways on certain highway projects and provides for one % of certain Transportation Trust Fund monies to be dedicated for walkway and bikeway purposes.
Permits review of permanent orders concerning child custody or parenting time every three years.
Restricts sale, distribution and advertising of tobacco products.
Requires testing for radon gas at public schools.
Imposes sales tax surcharge on sales of electricity that violate maximum allowable air pollution levels established by DEP.
Prohibits sale of heating oil not in compliance with DEP sulfur standard; directs DEP to establish such standard; and permits Governor to waive application of standard in certain emergencies.
Requires the licensing of certain security officers and the registration of their employers.
Permits review of permanent orders concerning parenting time every three years.
Bans trafficking in bodily fluids for unlawful purposes.
Requires the suspension of driving privileges of persons convicted of offenses involving acts of graffiti.
Requires the licensing of certain security officers and the registration of their employers.
Revises statutes regulating the practice of veterinary medicine.
Creates Black Bear Study Commission, authorizes issuance and sale of NJ Black Bear Stamp, and appropriates $10,000.
Establishes break times for certain workers.
Appropriates $460,200 to the DEP for dynamometer service contracts.
Provides for 30-year indeterminate term for compulsive and repetitive sex offenders.
Requires aftercare treatment as part of community supervision for sex offenders.
Requires payments for natural resource damages to be remitted to municipality in which discharge occurred.
Requires counties develop and submit to DHSS countywide animal control plans; appropriates $2,150,000.
Establishes regulatory scheme for motorized scooters.
Requires that each surrogate's Intermingled Trust Fund be maintained in accounts in banks located in the county where the surrogate serves.
Requires notification for potential license revocation of child care providers and certain health care facilities.
Establishes lead-safe housing grant and loan program and registry plan; appropriates $2 million.
Increases personal needs allowance to $55 for low income persons residing in certain facilities.
Requires election of freeholders by district in certain second class counties.
Regulates sale of cats and dogs by pet dealers.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 12
Increases and indexes maximum homestead rebate benefit. *
Accelerates phase-in of the NJ SAVER rebate.
"Senior Gold Prescription Discount Act."
Requires managed care plans and SHBP to pay in-network health care facilities full contractual rate regardless of whether treating practitioner is in-network or out-of-network provider. *
Requires individual health benefits plan carriers to offer a new health benefits plan and permits small employer carriers to offer exclusive provider organization plan.*
Requires licensure of third party administrators of health and dental benefits plans and certification of third party billing services. *
Makes supplemental appropriation of $50,000 to DCA for a grant for the National Association for Children with Autism, Inc., in Livingston.
Requires acceptance of universal physician application for participation form by managed care carriers. *
Extends civil service veterans preference to certain persons who served in Operation "Uphold Democracy" in Haiti.
Permits disclosure of certain patient information by organized delivery systems for research purposes.
"Health Care Carrier Accountability Act."*
Appropriates $135 million to the DEP for dam, lake, and stream projects. *
Passed the Senate · 16
Increases value of Legislative Initiative Municipal Block Grant Program by $100,000,000 over three years.
Supplemental appropriation of $100,000 to DHSS for public information regarding health insurance consumers' rights to appeal adverse decisions of insurer.
Supplemental appropriation of $1.3 million to DHSS for managed care oversight.
Establishes a hospital accounting management system and appropriates $2 million to DHSS.
Establishes Hospital Emergency Services Development Fund in DHSS to assist hospitals in creating emergency services clinics for patients who do not require acute care or trauma care; appropriates $9 million.
Increases physician fee-for-service Medicaid reimbursement rates; appropriates $7 million in State funds and $7 million in federal funds.
Increases annual charity care amount to $345 million and appropriates $30 million in State and federal funds to increase Medicaid fee-for-service hospital rates.
Provides grants to hospitals to determine feasibility of converting underused facilities to other uses; appropriates $4 million. *
Modifies motor vehicle emissions testing at State official inspection facilities, and provides testing subsidy to licensed private inspection facilities, until June 30, 2000 or certain conditions are met.*
Directs Medicaid to establish community spouse resource allowance and income limits at highest levels permitted by federal law.
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act." *
Requires public hearing by the Attorney General regarding conversion of certain nonprofit corporations under certain circumstances.
Makes a disorderly persons offense counterfeiting or forgering certain insignias or trademarks by candidate for public office.*
Establishes Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Council in DHS.
Allows court to grant adoption of children born in foreign country recognition and judicial comity in New Jersey.
Requires removal of site from contaminated site list within 60 days after completion of cleanup. *
Out of committee · 26
Renames Office on Minority Health in DHSS as Office on Minority and Multicultural Health and provides additional responsibilities for office; appropriates $1.5 million.
Changes method of filling county executive vacancies.
Prohibits health care facilities from requiring certain hourly wage employees to perform overtime work.*
"New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act"; appropriates $500,000.*
Imposes civil penalties on domestic violence offenders and establishes Domestic Violence Victims' Fund. *
Requires transportation services under Work First New Jersey program be provided for 24 months to recipients earning less than $12 an hour after leaving program.*
Supplemental appropriation of $8,050,000 in State and federal funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement for home health services.
Subjects HMOs to law regulating insurance holding company systems and revises calculation of health insurance policy reserves.
Increases personal needs allowance to $55 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities; appropriates $4.6 million in State and $3.6 million in federal funds. *
Makes supplemental appropriation of $3.5 million to the Department of Human Services for distribution of grants in equal amounts to all county ARCs.
Makes decisions rendered by independent utilization review organizations under Independent Health Care Appeals Program binding on insurance carriers.
Establishes 65 mph speed limit on interstate and limited access highways.
Provides that Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Infantile Autism shall be funded annually at $1.5 million.
Provides enhanced benefits to survivors of certain PFRS members.
Establishes "Child Care Center Capital Project Grant Fund Program" in DHS; appropriates $1.5 million.
Requires DHS and DHSS to provide information about federal and State benefits to persons providing kinship care.
Supplemental appropriation of $500,000 from General Fund for completion of Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City.
Requires Department of Education in working with Center for Media Studies at Rutgers to assist school districts in teaching media literacy; appropriates $530,000.**
Provides for principal location of "New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center" in Phillipsburg, with satellite location in Netcong.
Appropriates $16 million to DHSS for grants of $2 million each to the State's designated children's hospitals.
Establishes disciplinary procedure for school board members when charged with certain crimes. *
Designated the "Ombudsman for Abused and Neglected Children Act."
Establishes Task Force on the Oversight of DYFS.
Allows adopted person access to his original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000. *
Makes supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to DCA for a grant to New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault and member rape crises centers for rape care and prevention programs.
Prohibits the taking of menhaden for fish meal reduction in State coastal waters.
In committee · 46
Indexes maximum homestead rebate benefit.
Removes mileage limitation imposed on certain combinations of vehicles which exceed dimensional and weight restrictions on State highways.
Increases income limits for Home Care Expansion Program; appropriates $8 million.
Prohibits State from utilizing State Plan in permitting and funding determinations.
Establishes State aid program to reimburse CAFRA municipalities for property tax revenue losses due to new CAFRA rules; appropriates $10 million.
Requires hospitals and nursing homes to compile and provide certain staffing and patient care information to the public.
Directs DHSS to adopt regulations establishing certain minimum nursing staff ratios for general hospitals and nursing facilities and sets limits on medical residents' hours.
Modifies statute of limitations and eliminates certain defenses in civil cases seeking damages based on exposure to tobacco products.
Requires insurers that provide certain prescription drug benefits to cover costs of contraceptives.
Adds two commissioners to North Jersey District Water Supply Commission who must be residents of certain contracting municipalities.
Supplemental appropriation of $150 million to DHSS for reimbursement to participating health care providers of HIP Health Plan of New Jersey.
Dedicates use of tobacco settlement monies for certain health-related purposes and appropriates $40 million in State funds and $40 million in federal funds to increase Medicaid inpatient reimbursement rates.
Regulates organized delivery systems for health care services and benefits.
Regulates limited health service organizations.
Establishes Kinship Foster Care Program in DYFS.
Provides certain procedural changes in death penalty cases.
Supplemental appropriation of $1.5 million to DLPS to replace State Police weapons.
Authorizes attorneys serving as part-time municipal prosecutors to also serve as defense counsel for criminal matters in the county.
Limits placement of violent offenders to DOC secure designated facility or certain State psychiatric facilities for purposes of civil commitment.
Exempts siblings of the decedent from transfer inheritance taxes.
Broadens county power to review development applications in municipal border areas.
Clarifies that punitive damages may not be awarded against public entities in any tort action.
Modifies the Charitable Immunity Act.
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment.
Provides for a presumption of joint physical custody in a child custody determination; addresses relocation.
Changes 2004 primary election date to March 2.
Requires warnings labels on helium balloons.
Authorizes municipal ordinances or resolutions concerning release of helium balloons.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and State park admission for persons with certain types of military service.
Redefines meaning of campaign contribution to be net after deduction for fund-raising event expense.
Directs BPU to request FCC to adopt a national policy of permanent telephone number rationing in assigning telephone numbers to local carriers.
Requires school district to establish preschool recruitment program under certain conditions.
Gives contractual preferences to gun manufacturers which have pledged to adopt and implement certain manufacturing, firearms design and market practices that will foster firearms safety.
Requires testing of newborn infants for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Establishes limits on medical resident's hours.
Creates the "Grandparents' Court Liaison Program."
Directs the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Human Services to work with institutions of higher education in the development of certain family programs.
Requires AOC to record and track relationship between parties and children in certain family court matters.
Provides that certain offenders may spend the anniversary of the commission of a violent crime in solitary confinement.
Prohibits member of BPU from acting as legislative agent for one year after leaving office.
Appropriates $2.0 million to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for bear management.
Makes various fiscal year 2001 supplemental appropriations of $4,550,000 from the General Fund.
Provides consumers greater protection in the issuance of consumer credit reports.
Authorizes legal fees and costs against public entity filing legally groundless suits against citizens who are critical of the public entity.
Establishes the "State Debt Reduction and Avoidance Act" and appropriates $50 million for debt reduction and avoidance.
Clarifies that acting county prosecutor is entitled to same salary as county prosecutor.